Electric safety-ignition device



April 21, 1931. MCKENZIE ,8

ELECTRIC SAFETY IGNITION DEVICE Filed March-8, 1928' d, I I

FEANK I"I KENzIE.

- JNVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE FRANK MCKENZIE, OF COUNCIL BLUE IFS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-THIRD TO JOSEPH THORCNELL'AND ONE-THIRD T0 J CHRIS JENSEN, BOTH OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA; RAYMOND A.'SMITH ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID FRANK MCKENZIE, DECEASED ELECT-RIC SAJiETY-IGNITION DEVICE Application filed March 8,

I have invented a new and useful electric safety ignition device in which an independent current of electricity is made to operate in conjunction with a gas Valve anda thermostat; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a safeguard against gas being turned on without ignition; second, a means for always igniting the gas when turned on; third, a means for turning off the current after ignition; and fourth, a means for turning off the current of electricity when the burner is burning.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation and cross section through the burner, showing the diagram of wiring; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the entire device with the diagram of wiring left out.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

0 is an ordinary gas supply, and o is the usual valve supplying the gas from the gas supply 0 to the air supplied burner n. A look 0 is adapted to fall over the pin 39 when the pin p on the valve handle 72. is turned to a closed positionof the valve 'v. The lock 0 is arranged to work by the magnet g which is in the electric circuit 2?, s. A lever Z is attached to the stem of the valve 4) having the handle it and operates with the said valve '0 on a knife blade switch of which the blades are m m. The lever Z when the valve 1: is closed is just out of contact with the blades m and m. The circuit extending through the mag net 9 and through the blade switch having the lever Z extend on through the lighting resistance (Z and through the contacts 7 7 which contacts f and f are normally in contact when the filaments e g'are not heated. The filaments e and 9 having the contact pieces 7 and f are made of laminated metals so that heat bends them apart and when cooled, the

contacts 7 and f touch each other.

A slight movement to open the valve o by turning the handle to the left throws thelever Z in contact with the blades m and m. This allows the current through 23 and s to operate on the magnet g to raise the latch 0 and release the pin 10 of the stemhaving the handle 1928. Serial No. 260,088.

Upon returning the handle 72, of the valve 11 back to the right, it will close 011' the gas, the current of electricity will be broken as the lever Z leaves the blades of the switch m m, and the circuit through t and s will be closed at the points 7 f as the heat allows the points f and 7 to come into contact. A source of electrical supply is shown in the diagram Fig. 1 from a battery 6, but the ordinary supply is taken fromthe line wires of an ordinary lighting circuit. Should the lighting circuit be broken the lifting of the lock 0 by the finger can be accomplished and the pin ;0 of the valve stem attached to the handle it of the valve '0 can be released and the gas lighted by a match in the ordinary way.

Should the gas become wind or by cutting off the gas supply when the valve 2) is open the cooling of the thermostat blades 6 and 9 will cause them to re-.

ignite the gas coming from the burner 7b.. "Filaments e and 9 may be screwed onto the burner at any suitable. point or may be clamped to the burner so that it may be easily and temporarily removed for any purpose without disturbing the burner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

blown out by the locking device to 1. The combination with a gas burner and a gas valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, of gas igniting means including a resistance located at the burner for lighting the same, a switch in circuit with the resistance and operable by the gas valve to close the circuit when the valve is opened and to open the circuit when the valve is closed, and locking means for maintaining the valve in its closed position when there is no current in the said circuit.

2. The combination with a gas burner and a gas valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, of gas igniting means including a resistance located at the burner for lighting the same, a switch in circuit with the resistance and operable by the gas valve to close the circuit when the valve is opened and to open the circuit when the valve is closed, a locking device automatically movable to an engaging position and adapted to hold the valve closed when there is no current in the circuit, and electrically operated means in circuit with the resistance and the switch for moving the locking device to a valve releasing position when a current flows through the said circuit.

3. The combination with a gas burner and a gas valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, of gas igniting means including a. resistance located at the burner for lighting the same, a switch in circuit with the resistance and o erable by the gas valve to close the circuit when the valve is opened and to open the circuit when the valve is closed, a locking device automatically movable to an engaging position and adapted to hold the valve closed when there is no current in the circuit, and a magnet in circuit with the resistance and the switch and arranged to move the locking device to a valve releasing position when a current is flowing through the said circuit.

4. The combination with a gas burner and a gas valve for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, of gas ignitin means including a resistance located at the burner for lighting the same, a switch in circuit with the resistance and operable by the gas valve to close the circuit when the valve is opened and to open the circuit when the valve is closed, a projection carried by the valve and movable therewith, a locking device arranged in the path of the said projection and automatical' ly movable to a position for engaging the same to lock the valve in its closed position when no current isfiowing in the said circuit, and a magnet in circuit with the resistance and the switch and arranged to move the a valve releasing position when a current flows through the electric circuit.

5. An electric lighter for a gas jet comrising, in combination, a gas jet having a el'feed line, amanually operable control valve to regulate the flow of gas through the line, an electric circuit having a resistance coil arranged in exposed lighting proximity to the gas jet, a latch held yieldingly normally to lock said valve when closed against manipulation permitting the flow of gas through the line, a solenoid in said circuit in series with the resistance coil operable when energized to actuate said latch to re lease said valve to manipulation.

6. In combination with a gas jet havin a fuel feed line provided with manipulable fuel control mechanism to regulate the flow of gas through the line, an electric gas lighter, locking means normally securing said fuel control mechanism against manipulation, automatically responsive to the operation of the gas lighter to permit manipulation of the fuel control mechanism.

FRANK MGKENZI'E. 

